Spike T Smith is a British professional freelance session drummer, as well as a drum educator & mentor.
He’s spent many years working internationally with some of the world’s finest artists and musicians, including Morrissey, punk legends The Damned, Killing Joke, New York Dolls, Steve Ignorant/Crass, Sham 69 & H.R of Bad Brains amongst others.
Originally from Wales, Spike has played drums and performed since he was 13 years old. He’s been described by Rhythm magazine “As the British version of American session heavy-weight, Josh Freese”.
The definitive moment that Smith decided he was going to be a drummer, was after witnessing The Damned’s riotous performance on The Old Grey Whistle Test in 1979.
Around this time, and despite being 6 years too young to attend at 12 years old, Smith caught the train from Holyhead to Bangor to hopefully see his idols, Buzzcocks, perform at the University. Managing to blag a ticket and snuck-in by his friend, the euphoria of the moment was intensified by the surprise openers (and first live act witnessed), the now legendary Joy Division.
His resolve was only strengthened by watching concerts by Devo, Cockney Rejects, Theatre of Hate, The Damned, Black Flag and more.
He would go-on to play with some of these early influences.
Smiths first band, Alternative Attack made their live debut in December 1982, and he was the only member in an ever revolving line-up, to play on all recordings and live shows. They released one EP in 1987 “No Turning Back”.
During these formative years his talent for playing diverse styles was honed, playing with local reggae act “The Regulaetors”, and supporting all of the big-name reggae acts of the time that toured the area.
After playing on the same bill as English Dogs, Smith was invited to join the band after original drummer Andrew Pinching left. They toured the UK throughout 1987. At their final gig in Birmingham, Smith was encouraged to audition for Sacrilege, who were in attendance. Smith drummed on their “Turn Back Trilobite” LP (1989), and also appeared on “Behind The Realms Of Madness” LP (2015).
Smith was a member of Wardance from its beginnings in 1987 until the end in 1996, although not the only drummer to play with them, he toured consistently with them throughout Europe in the 90’s. He played on We’re All N****s..... But Not Your Boys LP (1993), Put Up Or Shut Up EP (1995), You’re So Right / Psyche 7” (1995)
Their final tour with GrimSkunk crossed the Atlantic to Canada ending in summer 1996.
During this period he recorded an LP with former English Dogs/Prodigy guitarist Gizz Butt under the band name name Sundance (both had previously played in Wardance),on The Beyond Within LP (1990).
During this period with the help of The Princes Trust he setup his drum school in his new home city of Peterborough - still operating 30 years on.
In autumn 1996 Smith joined Jolt featuring ex Senseless Things frontman Mark Keds, just in time to record their mini-album Punk Jungle Rules. Also played on Goodbye To The 80's 7” (1997), Made My Day 7” (1998) and Hey! Kitten / Hawaiian Beach Trolley 7” (1998) which The Libertines took a line from for their 2004 hit “Can‘t Stand Me Now”.
Towards the end of Jolt’s career they supported The Damned at the London Forum, where Captain Sensible and David Vanian were watching in the wings.
Smith joined his long-time heroes The Damned, and in February 1999 played his first show with them in Valencia, Spain, and then their UK tour and summer festivals.
He was due to record their next album, Grave Disorder, and play on their upcoming US tour in the Autumn but was poached by former Smiths frontman Morrissey for the ¡Oye Esteban! world tour.
The tour began playing at the first ever Coachella, where Smith makes an appearance on the documentary Coachella: 20 Years in the Desert (2020). The tour was very successful, and marked Morrissey’s first concerts in Mexico and South America, drawing huge crowds.
During pre-production sessions for Morrissey album “You Are The Quarry” in 2003, band members Gary Day, Alain Whyte and Smith put together side-band The Motivators, which performed a handful of London shows and released an EP Live At The Spitz (2003).
Smith joined Sona Fariq in 2002 who were signed to Warners (WEA). He recorded sessions for a second album that was never released after WEA dropped its entire roster of acts.
The T4 Project was a band made up of many well-known punk musicians from both sides of the Atlantic, featuring members of Bad Religion, Pennywise, Strung Out, Buzzcocks, Subhumans, Circle Jerks, Porno For Pyros. They released one album - Story-Based Concept Album (2008).
Smith joined political punk band Conflict in 2006, regularly touring Europe and the US with them until 2017. In 2010, during a band hiatus, Steve Ignorant frontman of CRASS was putting a band together to perform a one-off world tour of CRASS songs, covering Europe, USA, Australia & NZ, billed as “The Last Supper”, and released a DVD of the final show of the tour in London - The Last Supper - Shepherd’s Bush Empire 19 November 2011.
During this period, long-time collaborator Gizz Butt, was fronting his own thrash metal band THE MORE I SEE, and had Smith contributing his drumming skills to the albums THE UNHOLY FEAST (2008) and TREAD THE DARKER PATH (2010).
The summer of 2010 saw Smith stepping in for the mighty Killing Joke culminating in their first visit to China headlining the 2nd Inja festival.
On return to the UK, Smith reunited with Gary Day from Morrissey to perform with the legendary New York Dolls.
In 2011 Smith formed DESTROY DC (previously known as Headfuct) which included Gav King of Fields of the Nephilim/Conflict, releasing 2 EP’s entitled “Service With A Sneer” (2011) and “The Pride of the Asbo Generation” (2013) on Revernance Records. This band also backed HeWhoCannotBeNamed from the Dwarves on select UK shows and festival appearances.
Smith once again reunited with Gary Day to join Killing Joke’s keyboardist, Rez Udhin’s band Black Volition, to play some UK shows in 2015.
Since leaving Conflict in 2017, Smith has continued to tour, record & perform with many artists and bands including Cockney Rejects, Medictation, Ruts DC, Subhumans, Sham 69, Wonk Unit and Chron Gen.
In 2019 Smith realised a lifetime ambition when he was invited to join iconic frontman HR of Bad Brains, on his solo UK tour, centred around his first appearance at the Rebellion Punk festival. In 2025 he toured the UK once again with H.R.
In September 2020 Smith joined death metal Legends Memoriam recording drums for their 4th album “To The End”. This was released in March 2021 reaching number 9 in the charts. He was a permanent member of the band until 2025, and toured extensively throughout Europe in this period. He also recorded drums for the bands 5th album “Rise To Power” which reached number 11 in the charts in 2023.
In 2022 Smith contributed drums to Welsh ragga metal band Dub War’s album “Westgate Under Fire” which reached number 1 in the UK rock & metal charts & also played all drums on welsh psychedelic indie rockers, Holy Coves album “Druids & Bards”.
In 2023 Smith became the full time drummer for Sham 69 and still tours extensively with the band.
